Chapter 14
I picked up a stray cat, and it turned out to be XX
A chill crawled from the nape of my neck down my entire body, and I reflexively turned my head.
Where I looked stood a boy of about six or seven, with jet-black hair and rosy crimson eyes, watching me with a blank expression.
“Whoa, you startled me.”
It’s just a kid. I got scared for no reason.
But why is a little kid alone in a place like this?
After thinking for a moment, I recalled the white-bearded old man.
Is he that old man’s grandson?
I narrowed my eyes and studied the boy’s features, tilting my head.
He doesn’t seem to resemble him much, but…
Unlike the old man, who looked like an ordinary elderly person, the boy had such striking features that they stood out clearly even in the dim space.
Maybe his parents are exceptionally good-looking.
I nodded to myself quietly in agreement.
“Were you here alone?”
I hadn’t asked anything strange, yet the boy looked at me as if I were ridiculous.
“Yes.”
No matter how sick someone is, leaving a child alone like this is straight-up child abuse.
Considering that the white-bearded old man is friends with the medicine-jar elder, he probably isn’t an ordinary human either.
Maybe that’s why he doesn’t realize how serious this is.
“Isn’t there anyone else?”
I asked in case there was another guardian, but the boy suddenly pointed his index finger at me.
“You are the first. The first to enter here.”
I’m the first one to come inside? This is more serious than I thought.
“Not bad, for a human. To make it all the way up to the floor where I am.”
The boy seemed to be saying something else, but I was so shocked at witnessing what looked like child neglect that I couldn’t hear anything.
This isn’t something I can just ignore.
I’ll have to talk to the old man when I leave.
“What about food?”
“Food?”
The boy’s brow twitched slightly, as if he didn’t understand the question.
Oh no.
Judging by his reaction, he didn’t even seem to know what food was.
Not knowing about food means no one’s been taking care of him—but thankfully, he didn’t look exhausted or weak.
And if he’d really been abandoned for a long time, he wouldn’t look so clean and tidy, as though he’d just washed up.
Maybe, being the white-bearded old man’s grandson, he has some special power.
Thinking that way made it easier to understand why he was okay.
It’s good that he’s healthy, but I still didn’t feel at ease.
Just because someone can live without eating and doesn’t get dirty without being cared for doesn’t mean they don’t need care.
Thinking of this child spending all this time alone in this dim herb garden made my heart heavy.
“If you haven’t eaten yet, then share this with me, okay?”
I handed him the rice ball the elder had given me.
The boy just stared at it, as if the rice ball were something unfamiliar.
“What is this? A new strategy for attacking…?”
“Here, you hold it in your hand and eat it like this.”
Feeling a pang in my chest, I gently placed the rice ball into his hand.
“Watch. Like this, and then—ah!”
I took a big bite to demonstrate.
“Is there poison in it?”
Muttering softly, the boy eyed it with caution before carefully bringing the rice ball to his mouth.
He took a tiny bite from the edge, then his eyes slowly widened, and his chewing grew faster.
So cute!
Looks like he likes it.
I watched warmly as he ate the rice ball with his cheeks puffed out like a little chipmunk.
“Here, drink some water too, and eat slowly.”
When I offered the water bottle, I saw the caution in his eyes return.
Has he never even drunk water before?
How on earth did that old man raise him?
This is really too much.
Anger welled up inside me at the thought of this adorable child being neglected by adults, but I swallowed it down because I was in front of him.
“Water is drunk like this. See? It’s okay to drink.”
I lifted the bottle and took a drink myself before handing it to him.
Maybe he was really thirsty, because he gulped it down quickly.
[You consume the rice ball (S) made with the sincerity of ‘Medicine Jar (EX)’.
Your stamina is fully restored.
Stamina (35/35)]
With my stomach full, I suddenly became curious about why the boy was alone here.
“Hey, kid.”
“Beka.”
The boy, having finished the last rice ball, answered briefly.
That must be his name.
“Beka… that’s a pretty name.”
“That’s the first time I’ve heard that. Everyone else trembles when they hear my name.”
He still looked like he didn’t understand me.
The only change was that his wariness toward me seemed to have shifted into interest.
“They tremble when they see you? What weird people.”
The boy was like a small black kitten abandoned by the roadside.
What could possibly be scary about someone this cute?
If it were me, I wouldn’t even have enough time just cuddling him.
Is it because he has something special—like being fine without eating, or never getting dirty even without bathing?
People often fear or avoid those who are different from them.
Jiho, too, gained many admirers when he awakened with the Lucky Cube, but he also gained just as many enemies.
He didn’t show it, but I know how much he suffered from jealousy and resentment.
Maybe that’s why Beka reminded me of him.
Even though we’d only just met, I felt drawn to him and worried about him.
“Beka, where are your parents?”
“Parents?”
“The people who gave birth to you.”
“They don’t exist.”
It must have been a painful subject, but he answered as if it meant nothing.
Did Beka lose his parents at such a young age too?
So that’s why he’s alone here.
That calmness made it hurt even more.
I’d been like that once too.
After my parents went missing, I spent a long time not eating, shutting myself up in my room, staring blankly.
As embarrassing as it is to admit, if Siwoo Park and Jiho hadn’t tried to pull me out, I might still be trapped there.
“Why are you looking at me like that?”
I’d tried to hide it, but my emotions must have shown on my face.
I hurriedly covered it with a smile.
“I don’t know your whole story, but I’m kind of like you.”
“What’s similar? Do you have the same ability as me?”
One of Beka’s eyebrows twitched slightly, as if he didn’t like something.
“No, unfortunately I don’t have any special abilities like you.”
Well… being a hunter whose job is hot spring owner is kind of special, I guess.
But that wasn’t the point.
“When I was little, my parents went missing too, so I spent a long time alone. Seeing you just reminded me of that time.”
Then—
[The title ‘Woman with a Story’ activates.]
[Due to the effect of the title ‘Woman with a Story,’ those who hear the story will shed tears.]
Right.
I had a title effect like that.
Maybe because of it, a single tear rolled down Beka’s cheek.
“What is this feeling? It feels like my chest is being torn apart.”
He wiped the tear away and stared at his wet fingertips, clutching his chest, clearly confused by the unfamiliar emotion.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to make you cry by bringing up something depressing.”
“I’m crying?”
He looked as though he couldn’t believe it.
“Aren’t tears something only losers shed?”
Still muttering seriously to himself, he turned his gaze back to me.
“What is it?”
“Hm?”
“Your name.”
Oh right, I hadn’t told him.
“I’m Park Suon.”
“Park Suon…”
He quietly repeated my name.
I think I’ve rested enough. Maybe I should gather more herbs.
“Beka, I need to collect more herbs, so just sit there and play, okay?”
Maybe because I’d eaten, my body felt lighter, and picking herbs became easier than before.
[Due to the effect of the skill ‘The Hoe Is Just a Helper (A),’ you acquire double the herbs for 2 minutes.
Cooldown: 30:00]
[You obtain herb ‘Saesal’. x2]
“Do you need Saesal?”
Beka approached me, probably bored of just watching.
“Yeah, I need it as an ingredient to make medicine.”
As long as my terrible hands don’t change, I’ll keep having to make antidotes, so it’s better to gather plenty.
“Here.”
I’d only looked away for a moment, but a pile of Saesal had appeared in front of Beka.
“Is this… possible?”
“If it’s not enough, I can give you more.”
In front of my stunned eyes, Beka flicked his finger.
With a single gesture, a large amount of Saesal burst into the air.
“Beka, you’re the best.”
Delighted at having less work, I gave him a thumbs-up and hugged him tightly.
He looked surprised, but he didn’t push me away.
Just as expected of the white-bearded old man’s grandson.
With Beka’s help, I stuffed the easily gathered herbs into my bag and slung it over my shoulder.
I’ve got plenty now. Time to head back?
“Beka, I think I should go back now.”
As I said my reluctant farewell, Beka’s small hand grabbed me.
“Don’t go.”
He didn’t seem to want to part with me either.
“Then come with me. I’ll take you to the old man.”
“I cannot leave this place.”
“What do you mean you can’t leave?”
At that moment, a purple aura bloomed around Beka.
Bang!
With a loud sound, the open door slammed shut.
“There’s a lot of Saesal here. If you want, I can keep gathering it for you. So…”
The purple aura soon turned into shackles, binding my arms and legs.
[The ‘Guardian of the Tower’ regains forgotten memories and awakens as the ‘Master of the Tower.’
The dormant power awakens.]
A vivid blood-red flash shone in Beka’s crimson eyes as he looked at me.
“Stay here with me. Forever.”
